Tag: review

MY HAIR JOURNEY WITH CG210 (PART 4)

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Happy New Year, all. Sorry for such slow post as I’d been traveling with my family to Hong Kong.

As you might already experienced, traveling with others is not easy as too many things to do have to be accomplished in such short time of holiday. So if you have personal mission to achieve on family holiday, forget it! 

But at least, I was well prepared with my things to bring for the holiday!

Of course, one might not neglect hair care while on traveling too. That’s why my Abbott CG 210 was there inside my traveling beauty bag, alongside other important stuffs (like stronger perfume and stronger shades of lipsticks). It wasn’t a hassle anyway, CG210 was like spray twice a day on dry clean hair, massage for a minute and out the hotel door! 

I’ve been using CG210 for about 90 days now, so how did it differ from my previous post here? Well, as you can see from the pic below, I did perm my hair. Inspired by Aimee Song, I decided 2016 will be the perfect time to rock the Japanese wave. So yeah, I did it. Bye2 straight hair (for now). 

I believe that my hair shaft is getting thicker, even when I permed my hair at the salon, the hairstylist was surprised to see less hair fall like her other clients. She said, usually her clients who have strong colored hair like mine, will lost lots of hair while being permed. Meanwhile, my roots appeared to getting stronger, thanks to CG210. 

Unlike some haircare or hair treatment products that I just leave at home while traveling, because they will consumed my precious holiday time, CG210 is literally spray and go. Especially now that I have that ‘messy hair don’t care’ look, I never brush my hair anymore (lessen my hair routine time). 

Sharing you my OOTD look from Hong Kong, below, so you can see my hair from the front view.

PHOTOS: SHINTA ROSVITA & PINKY MIRROR 

WHAT’S IN A NUMBER?

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The latest fragrance from MAISON FRANCIS KURKDJIAN contains special number 540. 

BACCARAT ROUGE 540. That’s the name of the fragrance.

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Why 540? Why Baccarat? Isn’t that the name of the super famous crystal manufacturer? Yup, this luxurious fragrance was indeed the result of collaboration between Maison Baccarat and Maison Francis Kurkdjian. In celebration of Baccarat’s 250th anniversary, they launched this luminous & intense EDP. With opening notes of jasmine & saffron, followed by ambergris & cedar, this woody amber floral fragrance did trick me at first whiff. I really thought that it has fruity (read: berry) scent, but actually not. Very unpredictable scent, it’s like a fine vintage perfume bottle. 

The name of this fragrance was actually inspired by the bottle manufacturing process. Clear crystal mixed with 24 carat gold powder was gradually heated to 540 degrees, resulting in a golden red color. And this limited edition bottle is based on a 1942 George Chevalier (Baccarat’s artistic director at that time) design.

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The one with the red box above is a limited and numbered Baccarat Crystal Edition. They only produced 250 of them (said to be price at 3000 Euros per piece), just the same amount of their anniversary year. The rumour has it: they will bring one out of 250 bottle to Indonesia, so keep an eye for it. Too glamorous not to own, if you don’t believe me, watch here for the video of how they made this single diamond-cut flacon. 

For the rest of us, we can still enjoy the same fragrance with simpler bottle (still, it’s Maison Francis Kurkdjian’s signature & iconic bottle) which will be available on this month, January 2016. 

PHOTOS: SHINTA ROSVITA & MAISON FRANCIS KURKDJIAN 

THERE’S NOTHING COFFEE CAN’T SOLVE

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As an avid coffee drinker, I’m thrilled when a new coffee shop is coming to town.

Welcoming CARIBOU COFFEE to my hometown, Jakarta! Originally based in Minnesota, this is their first ever coffee shop in South East Asia. 

Thanks to the good people at Caribou Coffee Indonesia who invited me to try their coffee and food. FYI, I didn’t finish all of them, they served me like a queen. LOL. 

So what differ Caribou from other coffee shop or chain here? They serve real chocolate drinks. With real chocolate chips, not syrup nor powder. And of course, the highest-quality of beans including from our own Sumatra and Java. 

The ambience is very homey, especially on the second floor. They have outdoor terrace to accommodate smokers, too. Plus, do expect lots of mommies with their kids in this latest hip coffee shop, since it’s located just beside a hair salon. And mommies shouldn’t feel guilty too, because Caribou serve Kids’ drinks. Awesome, right? I warned you, the coffee scent already blasting when you’re still outside their door. Yes, it’s that powerful!

So, what did I love best from Caribou after I tried so many? Here they are:

TURTLE MOCCA: I prefer the hot ones, it taste heavenly. From dark, milk or white chocolate, I opted for dark as I love the after taste. So the dark chocolate will be melted into steamed milk, combined with espresso and caramel. Then, it topped with whipped cream, caramel sauce & Snickers. No surprise that this is one of their signature drink and best seller, too!

PRETZEL SMOKED BEEF & BRIE: This is one of the ‘locally adapted’ food in Caribou (they have the smoked ham version in the US). Since I love oven toasted sandwich, rather than the cold ones, this is a winner. And I’m surprised how the pretzel look-alike bread was softer than I thought. 

STRAWBERRY TART: I mean, look at that fresh strawberries. Perfect mix of the sourness of the strawberries, the buttery pie crumb and the not too sweet cream. I LOVE THIS!

The history of how Caribou Coffee was found. Yes, it involved a bunch of Caribous in Alaska!

Since every drink is handcrafted just for you, expect a slower serving time. But nevertheless, it’s worth to wait for something awakening. 

CARIBOU COFFEE 
Jl. Senopati 52
Jakarta Selatan
Open from 6.30 AM daily

PHOTOS: SHINTA ROSVITA

FOR YOUR EYE (LID) ONLY

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Makeup melting in the middle of the day is not something unusual in this city I live in. That’s why primer is one of my must have, including this latest product from BENEFIT, AIR PATROL.

Unlike any other eyeshadow primer I’ve tried, this ain’t no ordinary primer or base. Air Patrol is a BB Cream Eyelid Primer that color corrects while protect with broad spectrum SPF 20. Literally one shades fit all, this eyelid primer will guard our delicate eyelid area from sun, smoke & pollutants. So, yes…it color corrects and make our eyeshadows stay longer with the help of their special tip.

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They called the tip, CushionCalm. At the launching party earlier this month, Benefit Indonesia team showed us how soft yet strong the CushionCalm tip is. Inspired by mattress, no matter how hard we press them, it will go back to its’ natural shape.

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Claimed to be softer than our own pinkie, it’s also pressure-free..therefore it’ll protect our delicate eyelid from that rubbing & tugging. 

Here’s how they look on my eyes (pardon the late nights shown on my dark circles (LOL):

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Have to be applied on clean eyelids, AIR PATROL did give matte result..as you can see from the pic above. The texture is not too creamy or too runny, very easy to blend either with the tip or with our own finger. Twist the pen applicator twice for each eyelid, dot and spread. That’s how I did it. 

I believe the beige yellowish shade blurred the discoloration on my lids. Make sure you don’t put too much to avoid that too yellow shade. And on one of those lazy day, this primer can be used alone without eyeshadow. 

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Can you tell from the pic above? 

On the top, I applied Air Patrol before my eyeshadows & liner. Check out how the colors of my eyeshadows popped out more, even my black eyeliner look more intense. It did keep my eyeshadows & liner from creasing and fading in the middle of day, due to hot weather & humidity. Air Patrol is perfect for those who have oily lids like me, as we’re more prone to ‘lose’ eyeshadows easily.

Air Patrol is now available at Benefit Indonesia’s counters. 

PHOTOS: SHINTA ROSVITA

MY HAIR JOURNEY WITH CG 210 (PART 3)

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Yup, CG210 still is a big part of my hair care routine. It’s becoming a habit, I’d feel lost if I forgot to apply it.

You can see the difference on my hair from my previous post, here. So, how does my hair look like after religiously applying this hair spray-on lotion for 44 days straight? 

Please mind the style (and the fading color *sigh) …it’s too early in the morning when I took this pic and of course, I’m too lazy to style them. LOL. Anyhow, my hair shafts look like they’re getting thicker, with lesser hair fall. I believe they look healthier even though my hair were previously coloured and tortured every single day (with straightening iron).

Currently, I’m using the blackcurrant scents, specifically designed for women. The cannula really help to apply the lotion on the right spot. And I love the fact that my scalp didn’t react upon using this lotion, no itch…nothing. Even though it’s called lotion, the texture is somewhat watery, therefore it’s easier to absorb on scalp. I always make sure that my hair are perfectly clean & dry before spraying (just as they recommended). 

At their website, here, CG 210 claimed that it can grow 8,200 new hair strands after 90 days of use. Well, we’ll see if my hair will look thicker and thicker by then. I’ll update you on this for sure. See ya!

PHOTOS: PINKY MIRROR

WHEN EAST MEETS WEST

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Expect something intense & hypnotic with this latest fragrance from DIPTYQUE.

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OUD PALAO: when the magic of Laotian Oud mixed with Bulgarian Rose, Indian Cypriol, SriLankan Sandalwood, Somalian Olibanum, Madagascan Vanilla, Spanish Citus, and Indonesian Patchouli. Sounds very complex, doesn’t it? But actually, it is simply Oud, also known as liquid gold. It’s not bright as gold, but it’s dark & mysterious..just like the packaging.

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The packaging looks unisex, because it is a genderless fragrance. Legendary perfumer, Fabrice Pellegrin & Diptyque’s own Myriam Badault are the pair behind the creation of this deep fragrance. It took them two years to launch this sensual fragrance. Influenced by the Middle East, when fragrance (read: Oud) is such a huge part of their culture, Oud Palao is somewhat different. It has its’ own personality, like a precious gem. 

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It started with a strong whiff of Oud, then it dries down to more woody scent. Definitely a fragrance for the charming & the daring.

PHOTOS: SHINTA ROSVITA

MY HAIR JOURNEY WITH CG210 (PART TWO)

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Continuing my hair journey with ABBOTT CG 210, so what happened after a month plus of religiously using this hair spray-on lotion?

Time flew and it has been over a month since my first encounter with CG210. Just in case you missed it, click here for my previous post about the product. 

As recommended on the instruction, I applied about 5 sprays onto the scalp each morning and night. Since ABBOTT Indonesia gave me two products to try, men & women (scent difference only), I decided to use the men ones for night time use and women ones for day time use. Why? Because I feel the blackcurrant scent for the CG 210 women is too fruity, more suitable for day time use. Meanwhile, I found the mint scent on CG 210 men is subtler for resting time. 

Claimed to put hair shedding back to normal level in 44 days, check out my before after pics below. I even took a shot on my daily hair brush, so you can see how my hair shed lessen over these few weeks. Thankfully, my hair fall situation was not that bad, compare to those who will find hair on their pillow every morning. Mine were just falling all over the hair brush and in the shower. After I use CG 210 for more than a month now, my hair brush & shower sink are just some of the proof of how my hair fall situation has gradually decreased. 

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Check out the pic above, that’s how my hair shed every time I brush my hair.

After using CG 210 for a month plus, check out my hair brush below!

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Only a few hair were shed when I brush my hair. Awesome!

Check out my hair before and after pic below. If you can see a bald spot on my hair crown before, now it’s gone. Mind the length of my hair, I just had them cut earlier. 

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So far, I’m happy with the result, my bald spot is gone and don’t you think my hair look a lot thicker? I’ll definitely update you guys on how my healthier and thicker hair will get better and better in a few weeks to come. If you want to know more about Abbott CG 210, click here. 

PHOTOS: PINKY MIRROR 

GOOD NEWS ARE MEANT TO BE SHARE

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So I’m sharing them today.

I have a weak heart for matte lipsticks, so when I found out about these happening matte lipstick range from Indonesian (yes, this is local, people) beauty brand, I just have to get my lips on these shades. 

Don’t know when PURBASARI, the brand, famously known for their ‘lulur mandi’ aka body scrub launched this matte lipstick range. But boy, am I glad they did. They have 10 shades available and since they’re so affordable (Rp 32.000 a pop), I decided to buy them all. Yes, they have nude to bold shades. 

I just got them yesterday, and I can’t wait to show their swatches to you all, but I only manage to do two today, so bare with me. I promise to update their swatches on my instagram (@shintarosvita) throughout upcoming days.

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Randomly, I picked #89 named JADE (pic above). Pink Coral shade, which reminds me of Anastasia Beverly Hills ‘Retro Coral’.

And the next one #83, named PIRUS (pic below). Mauve shade, which similar to LA Splash ‘Love Good’.

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My thoughts?

  • Great textures (velvety feel) and easily applied. FYI, I didn’t use lip liner for pics above. 
  • What you see on the tube is exactly what you get on the lips (intense color, me like!)
  • It didn’t crack and last super long (but of course, need to reapply after a few drinks and eating session).
  • In terms of packaging, well it’s not fancy that’s for sure. But I appreciate Purbasari’s effort to make them as simple as possible. Not fancy but didn’t look like their price. 

My tips?

  • Make sure you twist the tube carefully, don’t push them too far as they’re slim and a bit fragile.
  • Moisture your lips first, then blot excess lip balm with dry tissue, before applying to ensure their matte look.
  • But if you do not have problem with dry cracked lips, just apply them straight from the tube to maximize their matte look. 
  • Want them to stay longer without exaggerate your lip lines? Instead of applying foundation on your lips before your lipstick, which might left them peeled later on due to dryness, try BB Cream. Seriously, I’ve personally tried this trick, and it worked like a charm. 
  • One swipe is enough, as they’re very intense. Make sure to blot.

Well, good luck of finding these matte lip colors, as they’re really hard to find (even they don’t provide any infos where to buy on their own website). 

PHOTOS: SHINTA ROSVITA

MUST TRY SERUM

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One of the best selling products from Korean brand, SULWHASOO now at its’ fourth generation.

Introducing: FIRST CARE ACTIVATING SERUM EX.

This is the fourth generation, as the first one was introduced way back in 1997. The 1997 serum became a huge hit because it changed the skincare routine, with the concept of a ‘boosting essence’ as the first stage of the skincare routine. And this year, SULWHASOO introduced the latest FIRST CARE ACTIVATING SERUM EX, based on a mixture of five precious Asian medicinal herbs (named JAUM Balancing Complex) using PREXtract Process to bring skin back into balance, resulting in a whole new dimension of skin radiance. 

As skin easily get dry due to aging and might effect on the natural radiance of healthy skin, this is the first boosting essence to apply right after cleansing. Yes, you read it right. After facial wash in the morning & evening, apply this serum first, then followed by toner. Koreans do have an unique way of applying their toner, they don’t use cotton pads. Instead, they pour it on the palm and straightly pat on the skin. 

Why serum first then toner? Well…the serum was designed to boost and sort of waking up our skin after cleansing, so after facial wash is supposed to be the right time for the serum to work its’ magic as our skin are clean & ready to absorb any nutrients available. 

Check out the texture. Clear brown color with a very light texture. The scent is milder than the previous First Care Activating Serum, less ginseng-y (if I may say). Of course it absorb so easily onto the skin without leaving any stickiness. It hydrates really well, leaving skin feel smooth and if applied correctly (remember, this first then everything else) will provide a good base for any skincare products that follow. Give this a try, especially if you have dry and dull skin that need to be fixed, asap. 

FACE SLIMMING

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I was born with chubby cheeks. What can I say? But now, there are lots of beauty treatment out there to (at least) slim them down.

On a fine Saturday afternoon, I was invited to try CAVITATION & RADIO FREQUENCY treatment at The Clinic Indonesia. Cavitation is an alternative slimming method using ultrasonic to burn fat under our skin. And Radio Frequency or simply called RF is a therapy using radio frequency sonar to tighten sagging skin. 

So, here’s how the combination of both treatment goes:

First, the therapist will clean our skin.

Then, she’ll apply this clear blue gel

The first is Cavitation treatment, using this round flat metal gadget.

It produced a buzzing sound, if you feel irritated, tell the therapist to lower the level (the max is level 5, by the way).

For each cheek, it need 15 minutes of circling and pressing of the Cavitation tool. It can go right down to the chin, too. Perfect to lose that double chin as well. Don’t worry it didn’t produce any pain, it actually felt like facial massage. 

Before moving on to RF treatment, the therapist will remove the left-over gel using wet sponge.

Then, time for RF. Another gel applied, this time it’s clear white gel. 

The tool is different. 4 rollers which will be slightly warm during the treatment. 

The application process is the same. Each cheek needs 15 minutes of circling and pressing motion. Good thing, it didn’t produce any buzzing sound. It’s warm, if you can stand the heat, ask the therapist to heat it up. 

How did it go?

Obviously, the left one is the before pic. My skin felt tighter after the treatment and it did look brighter. 

“Many celebrities are a fan of this instant treatment,” said dr. Felya Sandra Pramita from The Clinic Indonesia. “Because it didn’t leave any mark like injection and you can see instant slimming result.” 

For more infos about this treatment, click here.

PHOTOS: SHINTA ROSVITA